Automatic reverser for lubricating systems



Oct. 5, 1954 p w m 2,690,816

AUTOMATIC REVERSER FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 15, 1952 3Sheets-Sheet 2 2 6 3 y d 4 M w 2 M N 5 1 u c. N mw M r W W 0 i ,P m m KE 2 w 1 MA P wfl 1 F w. 1 W W H V m 2 wm a2 1} Hm}, f? 11 l 0 fig;

Oct. 5, 1954 S F. PAWLING 2,690,816

AUTOMATIC REVERSER FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Dec; 15, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 3 l0 3/ 3 INVENTOR.

FIE/INK PA WL/A/G A77'OENEYS Patented Oct. 5, 1954 AUTOMATIC REVERSERFOR LUBRICATING' SYSTEMS Frank Pawling, South Croyden, England, assignorto Trabon Engineering Corporation, Cleveland,

Ohio

Application December 15, 1952, Serial No. 325,908

'7 Claims.

1 This invention relates. to fluid reversers for lubricating systemsand,. more particularly, to a reverserfor automatically reversing thedirection of flow in a closed lubricant distributing circuit.

Anobject of the invention is to reverse the direction of flow oflubricant in a system in which the. lubricant is pumpedfrom a sump orreservoir to bearings or. distributors and then returned to the sump.

Another object of the invention is. to reverse the direction of flow oflubricant from a pump into one end of a conduit loop and utilize thereturn lubricant fromthe remaining endof the loop to reverse thedirection of flow.

A further object'of the invention is to provide an improved reverser forthev accomplishment of the above-referenced objects and one whichis'also of relatively simple construction and dependable and positive inoperation.

A deviceof the type to whichithe present invention relates may be used,for example, in lubricating systems in which the circuit includes one ormore metering or distributing devices which divert from the circuit apredetermined amount of a lubricant, such as grease or oil, each timethe directionof flow in the. circuit reverses.

According to the invention, the reverser comprises a. housing having twomain outlets for connection to the ends of a closedexternal circuit anda'main inlet for connection to a source of. lubricant under. pressureas,.for example, a grease pump; Three'shuttle valves incorporated inthree independent bores in the housing are provided, one valvedesignated as. a pilot valve being operable by return flow of lubricantfrom.

the external conduit to change the connection ofthexmain' inletfrom one.end to the other of a second valve designated as a main valve. The mainvalveis thereby operated to change the connection of the main inlet fromone end to.

during operation of the diverter valve to there- I by relieve the highpressurm and prevent false operation of the pilot valve.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, thehousing is divided into two pieces which are disposedin' mating relationalong opposing faces. At least some of the-internal connections betweenthe several valves are formed by'grooves in the face of oneof thepieces.

The bores for two of the valves are provided in one part of the housingand abore for the third valve is provided in the remaining part of thehousing. Each bore may be contained Wholly within the appropriate partand beclosed at its end by plugs. The several bores may be parallel, oneto the other.

It is a feature of one form of theinvention that the pilot valve ishollow and serves as a part of a passage for the flow of lubricant inthe device. Such an arrangement is not, however, essential to thepractice of the invention; and alternative passage arrangements may beutilized.

Further'objects, features and advantages of the invention will be morefully understood'from a consideration of the following detaileddescription and claims taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 11s a front elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a top view; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are end views referable to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section view taken in the direction 5--5 in Fig. 3and showing the pilot valve and the diverter valve;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken in the-direction 5-43 of Fig. 3 andshowing particularly the main'valve;

Fig. '7 is a view of the part of the housingenclosing the main valve andshowing particularly the disposition of the passageway grooves in theface thereof;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken in the line 3-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is avertical section taken on the-line 9-9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a view of the part of the housing which encloses the pilotvalve and the diverter valve and showing particularly the cooperatingface;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line Il|l in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the line i2i2 in Fig. 10; and

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are schematic diagrams showing the interconnectionsof the various valves and showing the successive positions of thepistons of the valves in the operation of the reverser.

The-reversing device of the illustrative embodiment of the inventioncomprises a two-part housing enclosing three shuttle valves. One housingpart, part I, is shown in detail in Figs. 7-9, inclusive; and the otherpart, part 2, is shown in detail in Figs. 10-12, inclusive. The twoparts are secured in face-to-face relation by screws 3.

The housing part I has a single cylindrical bore 4 enclosing a piston 5to form a main valve for the reverser. The piston 5 moves from one endto the other of the cylinder and is provided with an indicator 6 to showthe position of the piston.

The housing part 2 has two cylindrical bores I2 and I3 which receivepistons I4 and I5 to form a pilot valve and a diverter valverespectively. The piston I4 of the pilot valve has four lands I6, I! andI8 and I9, respectively, to form a valve having three valve stages andtwo drive stages. According to this designation, adjacent landscooperate to form valve stages while an end land forms a drive stagewith the end of the cylinder. The piston I4 has an internal opening 23and radial openings 24 and 25 to provide communication between thespaces enclosed by the lands I6 and I! and I8 and I9 respectively. Thepiston I5 has lands 20, 2| and 22 forming a valve having two valvestages and two drive stages. The cylinder bores are preferably formedwith smooth and accurately aligned surfaces, while the lands of thepistons are adapted to cooperate with the surfaces of the bores toprovide a lubricant-tight seal. Any suitable means may be provided inthe lands to improve the fluid seal, such as is shown for example inFig. 5, by grooves in the surfaces of the lands.

The housing has a main inlet 3| adapted to be connected to a source oflubricant under pressure such as, for example, a grease pump. Two mainoutlets 32 and 33 are adapted to be connected to the ends of anylubricating system which forms a closed circuit, that is from thereverser to the desired lubricant utilizing points and back to thereverser. An exhaust outlet 34 may be connected to a sump or reservoirfor returning the unused lubricant to the pump.

The housing has internal passages interconnecting the main inlet, thecylinder bores, the main outlets and the exhaust outlet to form anoperative mechanism adapted to function to accomplish the purpose of theinvention. The general relation of these passages to those elements ofthe reverser, e. g. the mode of interconnection, may best be appreciatedfrom the schematic diagrams of Figs. 13, 14 and 15 wherein thesuccessive positions of the pistons 5, I4 and I5 are shown for a typicalphase of one cycle of operation. The representations of the passages inFigs. 13 to 15, inclusive, are schematic in nature, inasmuch as thosepassages are, generally speaking, composite in nature. The passages areformed by releated openings in either of the housing parts I and 2, asmay be understood with reference particularly to Figs. 5 to 12,inclusive.

The main inlet 3| is formed in the top portion of the housing part I andis connected to the cylinder 4 of the main valve by means of an opening40. The opening 40 and the cylinder 4 together form an inlet port forthe main valve.

The main valve is operatively connected to the diverter valve by meansof two passages I02 and I03 which serve to transmit lubricant from themain inlet to either end of the diverter valve for shifting the divertervalve piston I5 and transmission into the appropriate one of the mainoutlets 32 and 33. The passage I02 comprises an opening 4| which extendsdownwardly from the top of the housing part I so as to intersect thecylinder 4 at an appropriate distance from the opening 40. The opening4| is intersected by a second similar opening 42 which extends from theright end of the housing part I, while an opening 43 extends from theouter end of the opening 42 to the face 50 of the housing part I. Acorresponding opening 44 extends from the mating face 5| of the housingpart 2 inwardly to intersect the cylinder I3 of the diverter valveadjacent the end thereof. The passage I03 is similar to the passage I02and is formed by openings 45, 46, 41 and 48 which correspondsuccessively with those of the passage I02. The passages 4| and 45 areclosed at the outer extremities thereof by suitable plugs 52 and 53while the passages 42 and 46 are closed at the outer extremities thereofby plugs 54 and 55.

The openings 4| and 45 are appropriately spaced from the passage 40 sothat the passage 40 may be connected to either the opening 4| or theopening 45 by the lands 8 and 9 of the piston 5 and separated from theremaining one of those openings when the piston 5 is in either extremeposition. The openings 4| and 45 form, with the cylinder 4, outlet portsfor the main valve.

The main inlet 3| is connected to the pilot valve by means of thepassage I04 which serves to transmit the lubricant from the cylinder 4of the main valve to the cylinder I2 of the pilot valve. The passage I04comprises an opening 56 which extends from the cylinder 4 to the face 50of the housing part I. A corresponding opening 51 extends from themating face 5| of the housing part 2 to the cylinder I2.

The passage I04 is operatively connected to either end of the main valveby the pilot valve, e. g. lubricant which is received in cylinder I2from passage I04 may be transmitted to either end of the cylinder 4through the passages I05 and I06 according to the position of the pilotvalve I4. The passage I05 comprises an opening 58 which extends from thecylinder I2 at one side of the opening 5'I to the face 5| of the housingpart 2. The opening 58 is connected to an associated opening 59, whichextends from the mating face 50 of the housing part I to the cylinder 4at the end thereof, by means of a groove 60 which is cut in the facingportion of the housing part I. Similarly, the passage I06 comprises anopening 6| at the remaining side of the opening 51 extending from thecylinder I2 to the face 5| of the housing part 2. The opening BI isconnected to an associated opening 62, which extends from the face 50 ofthe housing part I to the cylinder 4 at the remaining end thereof, bymeans of a groove 53 which is formed in the facing portion of the blockof the housing part I. The openings 58 and SI form, with the cylinderI2, outlet ports for the pilot valve while the openings 59 and 62 form,with the cylinder 4, drive ports for the main valve.

The passage I04 is interconnected with either passages I05 or I06 by thecentral lands I! and I8 of the piston I4. The remaining one of these twopassages is connected, together with one of the passages I02 or I03, tothe exhaust outlet 34 through the exhaust passage I01. Thus, as is shownin Fig. 13, the passage I05 is connected to the passage I04 whilepassages I06 and I08, and therefore passage I03, are connected to thepassage I01 and the exhaust outlet 34. Conversely, as is shown in Fig.15, when the pasarrange: a

saged 04: is connecteditolthepassaged 06; passages I 05: and. I IFl;andithereforc:passagei I 02;. are connected to passage IflIand?-to:the--.exhaust"outlei-3.34;-v

Passage- I08. is: formed-by opening; 64* which 5 extends. fromthe-cylinderi 4 torthe: facev 50: of the? housing part: I;corresponding; opening 65 extends from.- the mating face-51 w of.thehousing, part- 2. to. the: cylinder I 2.. Similarly, the passage;III I- is. formed by an. opening: 65: which. extends-fromthe cylinder4=tor the face 50 of: the housing; part-I and ascorresponding'opening 51which extends. from.the.-.- mating face 5I- of the housing part-2' tothe cylinder I2. The openings 64 and 66 form with the cylinder 4valve-ports: forzthe main valve:

The passage I 0&1 i comprises. a.- groove 68 which is.-= formed intherfacing. portion. of the housing part I and extendsafromthe opening66. to an opening fiiiwhich extendsfromthe face-50.0? 20 thezhousingjpart I to the exhaust. outlet 34;

Thepassage Ifl8-=isconnected tothe passage'IiII by the internal opening23 and the radial openings' 24 and 25. These openings permit fluidcommunication between the spaces-between the lands I8 and I9, and I6 andI7; respectively-,- of thepilot valve piston I 4, and hencebetween'itheopenings 65 and 61.

The diverter valve receives lubricant iluidfrom either-of the passagesIE2 and I83 and,-.by.-reasoni of the accommodating jmovement of.thepiston I5, causes the lubricant to betransmitted' from theassociatedone of the main outlets-Moor 33. The lubricant fiuidwhich isreversedat the remainingmain .outlet is. transmittedto the p-i-lot valveto. actuate the :pilot piston". I 4

Thus, in'Fig; 13 lubricant fluidis transmitted from passage I02 out. themain-.outletr32. through the external fluid circuit .83 back to.-the:remainingmain outlet 33 and-through therpassa'ge I I8 tov thepilot valve cylinder I2. Similarly; when the lubricant is transmittedthrough. passage I013, it flows out the mainoutlet th-throughexternalfluidxcircuit 83. back to the remaining--mainoutlet 32. and thencethrough passage I091 to the pilotlvalve cylinder I2.

Passage I09 comprises-the openingldwhich extends from the cylinder I3.to the-face 51 of: the housing part 2.- The opening i0 is connectedztothe'opening; II; which extendsfrom the face EU to the cylinder- I2; by agroove "I2 formeda inthe facing portionof-the-housing part I. Similarly,passage: I I0 comprises opening I3 :which extends from. the cylinder I3to the surface. '54. of. the

housing, part 2 andopening 14--- which extends: 55:

sage I03 so thatgrease may, flow through the fromthesurface 5 Ito'the:cylinder. I2 and-.an interconnecting groove I5-formed-'in-theafacing portion of the housing part I.

The exhaustoutlet 34 is connectedtothe cliverter valve by means oftheopening 69 which extends: from the exhaust outlet to the face. 50. ofhousingpart I, opening I5 which extends from the mating face 5| of thehousingpart v ii-inwardly to intersect-an opening H which extendsupwardly from the bottom of the housing part. Theopening TI and thediverter valve cylinder I3 form an exhaust port for the diverter valve.The opening I! is closed at the lower end by plug I8.

The main outlet 32 is connected to the cylinder l3 of the diverter valveby an opening I9 in the housing part I and a cooperating opening 80 inthe housing part 2. The main outlet 33 is similarly connected to thecylinder I3 by an opening BI in the housing part I and a cooperatingopening 82 in the housing part 2. The openings 33 ofthe reverser.

6 893: audit! 2. i and'zthe: cylinder. I 3: fornr outlet; ports fOl'lthBdiverter valves.

ASIZShOWIlliII Fig.- 13; thewreverser intended to. be :usedi as; a:part. of a l lubricating system and may be connected: in atclosed:circuit 83 1 containing a-znumberl'of diStIibtlt0IS 84'-; Thesedistributors-are-of the-kind which; on. initial flow of grease in: onedirection intthe circuit,. dispenses a: measured: amount of "the: greasetowthezbearing orr'other lubricant using device 1 before permittingtheffiow to'xcontinue past; the device; The distributor: then= repeatsthe: operation: upon.- reversal ofthe direction: of flow in: the.circuit.

In 1. the operation: of the: reverserr as; shown in successive-steps:from Hg; 13 tOcFig. .15, inclusive, grease flows from the inlet 3ibetween the-central lands of the piston 5 through the passageIM to thecylinder I83 The:piston l5-s-issforced toward the right:hand:end:ofrtlieecylinder: I3 and grease may then flow from thecylinder I 3.: out thezmain outlet port 32 to the circuitAEI.Simultaneously therewith; the greasehas-been flowing; through thepassage I Bland. into? thespacebetweemthe central lands ofthe piston Id-and throughathe passage- I 05 to the: rightend of: cylinder. 4, thusmaintaining: the piston 5-in positionat the. left end. of thecylinder 4.The right-end of the diverter. valve cylinder. I3 is connected-to theoutlet- 34 through the passages [03, I08 andIIll s0 as-to provideaereliefforthe-grease in: the right handendof. the: cylinder. I3: asthepiston. I5 moves .to theright.

The grease-flows throughthe circuit 40; and a portionthereof.is-returned .to the mainoutlet The grease. flows betweenthe central andrightendlands of the diverter valve piston I5 andthrough the passagelII! tothe left end of the'pil'otcylinder. I 2, The pilot piston. I 4 is.then. forcedto the-right to. the position shown in Fig. 14, driving. anygreasein .the. right end of the. cylinder. I2. through-the. passage.I09. and between. the. middle. and left end lands. of. the divertervalve piston and. out .the exhaust 34'.

Upon -.movement-. of.-- the piston. I4 I to. the right, the. inlet.passage. I (M is. connected to the passage I05 so-thatgreasefiows fromthe passage I64 between the centrallands of "piston I4 and throughtheipassage I061 to the left end of'the cylinder 4." The. piston 5Tisthen forced. to the right'end of the cylinder Ifito-the ppsition'shownin'F'ig; 15.

Any grease in the right handendof' the'cylinder I'may flow to theexhaust 34'Jthrough thepassages lilfiandlil'l.

The movement .of. piston no the right endJof the cylinder. [connects theinlet 3I Witli'the passpacebetween-the. central lands of" the piston.5through thepassage-Ntand into the right. end of the cylinder I3. Thecylinder I5: is thereby forcedltothe left, and the-grease. flows intothe lubricatingcircuit 4am a. direction opposite .to thatpreviously:described.- Upon; flow of.-return fiuidinto the outlet 32.;the entireprocess is-repeated.

It will: be understood-- from. Fig. 15 -that.upon movement of the piston5 to the right end of the cylinder 4 and before the piston I5 has movedsufi'iciently to the left to cover the outlet port associated with themain outlet 32, the passage I02 is connected to the main exhaust 34through passages Ill and I 07. The grease in the end of the circuitconnected to the main outlet 32 is highly compressed and upon release ofthe compressive force due to the pump, the grease expands rapidly.Because of the arrangement of 7 the main and pilot valves, the grease ispermitted to flow through the passage I '02 between the left end landsof piston through the passage ll! between the left end lands of pistonI4 and through the passage I01 to the outlet 34. The

excess pressure is, therefore, substantially relieved prior to theconnection of the outlet 32 with the passage I09. The possibility offalse operation of the pilot valve is thereby minimized.

It is to be understood that the specific nature of the presentdisclosure is not intended to be restrictive or confining and thatvarious rearrangements of parts and modifications of design may beresorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the inventionas herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid reverser for lubricating systems comprising a housing havingtwo main outlets, an inlet and an exhaust outlet, and valves forconnecting the inlet to either of the main outlets in response to flowof return fluid into the remaining outlet, including a diverter valvecomprising a cylinder having a drive port at each end of said cylinder,an outlet port spaced inwardly from each end of the cylinder, each ofthe said outlet ports being connected to one of the said main outlets, avalve port spaced inwardly from each outlet port and an exhaust portpositioned between the valve ports, a piston in the cylinder having amiddle and two end lands in fluid-tight engagement with the walls of thecylinder and adapted to be moved from one end of the cylinder to theother to connect a drive port with an outlet port and a valve port withthe exhaust port at one end of the cylinder and an outlet port with avalve port at the remaining end of the cylinder, a main valve forconnecting said inlet to either of said drive ports comprising a secondcylinder having an inlet port connected to the said main inlet, anoutlet port at each side of said inlet port and connected to acorresponding drive port of the diverter valve, a valve port at eachside of the inlet port outwardly from the associated outlet portcommunicating with the exhaust outlet, and a drive port at each end ofthe main valve cylinder, and a piston in the said main valve cylinderhaving four spaced lands in fluid-tight engagement with the walls of thesaid cylinder for connecting one outlet port to the inlet port and theremaining outlet port to the associated valve port when the piston is ateither end of the cylinder and a pilot valve comprising a third cylinderhaving a drive port at each end of the cylinder connected to anassociated valve port of the diverter valve toward the opposite endthereof, an inlet port connected to the main inlet and an outlet port ateach side of the inlet port connected to an associated drive port of thesaid main valve at the opposite end thereof, and a piston in the saidpilot valve cylinder comprising four spaced lands for connecting oneoutlet port to the inlet port when the piston is at either end of thecylinder in response to pressure of lubricant fluid returned 8 to themain outlet associated with the end of the pilot valve cylinder to whichthe pilot valve piston is to be moved.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that thehousing is formed in two cooperating parts and that at least one of thevalves is enclosed in one part and the remaining valves are enclosed inthe remaining part.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that thesaid housing is formed with two parts having cooperating inner faces influid-tight engagement and that the valves are interconnected bypassages which include grooves in the inner face of at least one of thepieces.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that thesaid housing is formed with two parts having cooperating inner faces influid-tight engagement and with the pilot valve in one part and the mainvalve in the remaining part and parallel thereto and horizontal passagesextending between the said two valves, and the diverter valve beingdisposed below the level of the above-named valves and connected theretoby grooves formed in the facing portion of at least one of the parts.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1, the said pilot valve havingtwo valve ports, each spaced outwardly from an associated outlet portand connected to the corresponding valve ports of the main valve andmeans connecting the portions of the pilot valve cylinder between thetwo lands of the pilot valve piston toward each end thereof with theexhaust outlet of the reverser whereby each main outlet is connected tothe exhaust outlet when the pilot valve and main valve are actuated torelease the pressure of accumulated lubricant fluid in the main outletbefore that outlet is connected to the pilot valve.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5, the said connecting meanscomprising a passage in the housing communicating with the pilot valvecylinder at one end thereof and with the exhaust outlet at the remainingend thereof and an opening through the pilot valve piston between thetwo lands at one end of the piston and the two lands at the remainingend of the piston.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 5, the two lands toward theone end of the pilot valve piston serving to simultaneously interconnectthe outlet port and the valve port of the pilot valve to the exhaustoutlet prior to the actuation of the main valve so as to enable releaseof accumulated lubricant fluid in the end of the main valve cylinder asthe main valve piston is moved to a position corresponding to that ofthe pilot valve piston.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re.21,l60 Hillis July 25, 1939 2,022,005 Leonard Nov. 26, 19352,266,204 Hull Dec. 16, 1941 2,622,697 Higgens Dec. 23, 1952

